U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over $467,000 in Cocaine at Brownsville Port of Entry

Release Date:

April 25, 2013

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Gateway International Bridge discover cocaine valued at approximately $467,200 hidden within a Ford Taurus.

On Tuesday, April 23, at the Gateway International Bridge CBP officers came in contact with a white Ford Taurus being driven by a 19-year-old male citizen of Mexico who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. A primary CBP officer referred the Ford and its driver for a secondary examination. In secondary CBP officers discovered six packages hidden within the vehicle. CBP officers removed the six packages containing approximately 6.63 kilograms (14.6 pounds) of alleged cocaine from the Ford Taurus.

The alleged cocaine from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $467,200. CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents for further investigation. CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle.

"Yet another load of narcotics has been intercepted by our frontline CBP officers at the Brownsville Port of Entry. I congratulate our CBP officers for their outstanding work ethic and unwavering commitment to our country," said Michael Freeman, CBP port director, Brownsville port of entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.